System of defending harbors by submarine torpedoes



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-.Sheet l.

A. Gr. DONNELLY.

SYSTEM 0F DEI-PENDING HARBORS BY SUBMARINE TORPBDO'ES.

Patented July 8', 1890.

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SYSTEM 0F DBPBNDING HARBORS BY SUBMARINB TORPEDOES.

Patented July 8-, 1890.V`

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UNITED STATESl PATENT Ormes.

ALEXANDER G. DONNELLY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALDENSOLHANS, OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

SYSTEM OF DEFENDING HARBORS BY SUBMARINE TORPEDOES.

ASPECIFICA'JIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,565, dated July8, 1890.

Application filed March 26, 1889. Serial No. 304,875. (No model.)

`a specification.

My invention relates to the defense of harbors by submarine torpedoes;and its object' is the production of a more efficient torpedo and systemof operating the same for harbor defense against navalv attack than anynow in use.'

Modern improvements in ordnance and projectiles make it possible for thefleet of an enemy to take a position in deep water or in such soundingsthat submarine mines or fixed torpedoes of ordinary construction locatedon the sea-bottom would have little or no effect on theirheavily-armored ships or prevent them from bombarding seaboard cities ortowns at long range, and if the mines or fixed torpedoes are attached tobooms or anchored so as to oat near the surface they are a source ofdanger to the defense as well as the enemy. In a torpedo the area ofeffective force is directly as the quantity of explosive force. Itfollows, therefore, that a torpedo service in deep soundings must be soconstructed, arranged, and operated as to enable the operator to bringthe explosive energy of the torpedo or torpedoes directly in cont-actwith the hull of the ship or other object to be assailed. The ordinaryrange of soundings in outer harbors is anywhere from ten to fiftyfathoms, and mines laid in even ten fathoms of water in fixed positionson the bottom in order to be effective against heavy armor must containa charge the volume of which would make it impossible to place themsufficiently close together to prevent the enemy forcing the line, forthe reason that if the torpedoes or mines are placed sufficiently nearfor such purpose in deep soundings the vibrations caused by theexplosion of the desired torpedo will almostcertainly cause theexplosion of the whole line of torpedoes almost simultaneously,particularly if dynamite is used.

My invention is designed to obviate this objection and render itpractical to place the torpedoes sufficiently near together tocompletely protect the entrance to a harbor and at the same time preventthe vibration resulting from the explosion of any one of said torpedoesfiring the remaining torpedoes in the line or series.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction,arrangement, operation, and combination of parts, which will be readilyunderstood by reference to the description of the drawings and to theclaims to be hereinafter given, and in which, my invention is clearlypointed out.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of the entrance to aharbor, a portion being shown in section and the whole illustra-ting myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the floatingfiring-station. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the torpedoeswith a portion of its chain ladder or fiexible anchoring-connection.Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and a longitudinal section 0f theupper metal trunnion or guide connected tothe flexible lining. Fig. 6 isa longitudinal section of the lower metal trunnion or guide and aportion of the air-tu be coupled thereto. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ofa short section of the pneumatic tube for connecting the land-stationwith the iioating firing-station, with telegraphie-circuit wires andelectric-light wires Wound thereon; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of ashort section of the pneumatic tube connecting the air-reservoir on thefiring-station with the interior of the inner lining of the torpedo,with the electric-circuit wires for firing the torpedo wound thereon.

In the drawings, A is the land signal-stm tion, in which is placed anair-compressor a and any suitable electricalapparatus for generatingelectricity and transmitting messages, said station being madebomb-proof,if desired.

Bis the armored floating firing-station,made, preferably, circular inplan or horizontal section, and having its upper portion of considerablylarger diameter than its middle or lower section, and having formedtherein the ballast-room b, the compressed-air reservoir c, theoperating and firing room d, andthe gunroom e. The outer edge of thegun-deck is IOO supported by the inclined annular band of heavy iron orsteel f, which incloses the annular air-tight chamber g. The uppersurface of this floating battery and firing-station is curved from thewater-line upward toward the center, where there is a hatchway h, whichis to be closed in rough weat-her, through which admission is had to thegun-deck by means of the stairway t', and directly beneath this hatchwayis a hatchway j through the gunldeck, through which admission is had tothe operating-room d by means of the stairway 7c.

In thc chamber d are located as many three-way valves l as there aretorpedoes in the system, each having an opening communicating with theinterior of the reservoir c, 4another' communicating with the chamber d,and a third extending through the Wall of said chamber to the exteriorof the vessel, i

vand to which is coupled the flexible pipe m, which leads therefrom to atorpedo. In the chamber (Z are also located a telegraphic receiver Pn.,connected with the transmitting-instrument o in the land signal-stationA by suitable circuit-wires 0 and 02, Wound upon or carried by theflexible air-pipe P, connecting the reservoir c with the air-compressorin the signal-station A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and a switch orkey-board p2, connected by suitable circuit-wires 19 and p', wound uponor otherwise coirnected to and carried by an air-conducting pipe m tothe explosive in each of the torpedoes in the system, all as shown inFigs. l and 8.

The floating battery and firing-station is loaded with sufficientballast to submerge it to the bottom of the gun-deck, as indicated bythe dotted water-line in Fig. 2, and is anchored in the desired positionby means of a series of chain cables q q, leading from the outer edge ofthe gun-deck to any suitable anchors at the bottom of the harbor, asshown in Figs. l and 2.

' The gun-room e may be supplied with a battery of heavy ordnance forprotecting the torpedo-line or with machine-guns for repelling boarders,the chamber e being provided Wit-h suitable ports r, through which saidguns may be fired, and the rooms d and e may be lighted by electriclights, the electric current for which is conveyed from thesignal-station A by means of the circuit wires or cables s and s', asshown in Fig. 7.

C is one of the torpedoes, composed of an outer barrel-shaped casing c',made, preferably, of steel plates and of sufiicient strength to resistthe pressure of the Water when sunk to the bottom in the deepestsoundings where it is likely to be used, and has formed therein,preferably, at the bilge one or more openings for the admission of waterto its interior, said openings, if two are used, being made directlyopposite each other, as shown in Fig. 3. To each end or head of thiscasing is secured a metallic cylinder t, which is filled with a suitableexplosive materialas dynamite or gun-cotton, preferably the latter-tothe center of the mass of which are led the circuit-wires p and p',where they are connected by a short piece of platinum wire asa means offiring the explosive in a Well-known manner.

Vithin the casing c is placed a flexible airtight lining t of a shapeand size to fit substantially the inner surface of the metal casing cwhen expanded and capable of collapsing to bring its opposite sidestogether either along the center of the chamber in said outer casing orpressed against one side of said chamber, according to whether one ortwo water-admission openings are made in the cas-` ing c.

The lining-chamber t has secured to its outer surface at the middle ofits length a metal trunnion or guide-rod u for each opening in the outercasing c', said guide-rod being made triangular in cross-section orprovided with wings, the edges of which serve as guides to maintain thelining in-proper position, while the spaces between said wings permitthe free passage of Water to the interior of said casing c when the airis exhausted from the lining t', so as to reduce the pressure withinsaid lining below the pressure of the Water upon its exterior surface.One of said guide-rods has a tubular center, as shown at v in Fig. 6,and has firmly coupled to its outer end one end of the air-pipe m, asshown in Figs. 3 and 6. f

The guide rod or rods a have a length at least equal to the diameter ofthe outer casing c', so that if the water enters in such a lnanner as toforce said flexible lining all to one side of said outer casing neit-herof .said guide-rods will be withdrawn from the opening in the outercasing c.

The outer casing c is connected at two points w and zu to one end of aflexible ladder composed'of chains @c and stay-rods 0c and made of alength proportioned to the depth of Water in which the torpedo is to besunk, and has its other end firmly anchored to the harbor or sea-bottomin any suitable manner.

A series of torpedoes of the kind herein described are anchored, bymeans of the flexible ladders above described, at suitable distancesapart across the mouth of the entrance to the harbor or across the paththat must be taken by the enemy to reach a spot from which he couldshell the city or fortification that he intends to attack, eachconnected by a suitable air-conducting pipe with the interior of thecompressed-air reservoir c and by suitable electric circuit-wires withthe liring-room d. When an enemy is seen approaching, the party incharge of the shore signal-station immediately telegraphs the fa et tothe operator on the floating station, with orders to stand ready toreceive and execute such orders as may be sent to him. The signalofficer at the shore station, by means of a suitable system ofco-ordinate angles or transit-lines, determines when the enemys IOO IIO

ship is approaching or is over any particular torpedoas one, two, orthree-and telegraphs the operator on the floating firing-station toraise said torpedo, which is done by turning the valvel belonging to theparticular torpedo, when a sufficient quantity of the compressed air inthe reservoir c rushes through the pipe m to the interior of thelining-casing t', and, expanding the saine, expels the water from theouter casing c', thereby causing it to float and rise as near thesurface of the water as the flexible ladder-like cable will permit. Ifthe command comes from the shore station to fire said torpedo, theoperator touches the firing-key on the switch or key board, when theexplosion instantly takes place; but if the signal officer at the shorestation sees that the ship is not in the right position to be damaged byexploding' that particular torpedo, but is approaching another torpedo,orders are given to raise the second one and fire it and to sink thefirst one. The sinking` of the torpedo is done by turning the valve lsothat there shall be a free passage through it from the pipe m to thefiring-room d or into the open air, when the air in the interior of thetorpedo will escape into the open air, and the outer casing c of thetorpedo C will fill with water and sink to the bottom, where it remainsready for use at any future time.

By this arrangement and mode of operating torpedoes l am enabled to usepowerful torpedoes and place them much nearer together without danger ofexploding more than is required, for the reason of the fact that thetorpedoes in their normal positions are on the bottom of the channel indeep water, and when any particular torpedo is required to be explodedit is first brought to the surface or near to the surface of' the water,which very materially increases the distance between it and the nextnearest torpedo, and those torpedoes that are not to be fired at thattime being at the bottom, where the pressure of the water is muchgreater than at the surface, they are much less liable to be exploded bythe vibrations caused by the explosion of' the raised torpedo than wouldbe the case if they were at or near the surface of the water and thesame distance from the exploded torpedo.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

l. As a means of harbor-defense, the combination of a torpedo, a floatcarrying said torpedo and comprising a non-collapsible .outer casinghaving an opening for the admission of water thereto and an innercollapsible lining', said torpedo and float being connected to an anchorat the sea-bottom, an armor-clad floating operating-station anchored ina xed position and containing a reservoir for compressed air or othergases, a land station containing telegraph-instruments andair-compressing or gas-generating mechanism, suitable air or gasconducting pipes connecting said land station with the reservoir tionand the floatingstation with the explosive material of the torpedo, anelectric switch forcontrollin g the explosion of the torpedo, and anair-Valve for controlling the raising and sinking of the torpedo, saidvalves and switch being carried by the floating station.

2. As a means of harbor-defense, the combination of a plurality oftorpedoes, each provided with a float comprising a non-collapsible outercasing having an opening for the admission of Water thereto andan innercollapsible lining and anchored to the sea or river bottoni at suitabledistances apart across the entrance to the harbor or other place to bedefended, an armor-clad floating distributing and operating stationanchored in a fixed position and containing a reservoir for compressedair or other gases, a land station containing telegraphic instru men tsand ai r-co mpressing or gas-generating mechanism, suitable pipesconnecting said air or gas mechanism with the reservoir of said floatingstation and said reservoir with the interiors of each of thetorpedo-floats, electric circuit-Wires connecting said landstation Withsaid floating station and said floating station with the explosivematerial of each of said torpedoes, a plurality of air or gas valves onsaid floating station for controlling the raising and sinking of each ofsaid torpedoes, and electric apparatus on said floating station forreceiving signals from the land station and for firing any or all ofsaid torpedoes at will.

3. As a means of harbor-defense, the combination of a plurality oftorpedoes, each provided with a float comprising a non-collapsible Outercasing having an opening for the admission of water thereto and an innercollapsible lining, an observing signal and operating station containingelectrical apparatus and air-compressing mechanism, pneumatic pipesconnecting said air-compressor with the interiors of the floats of saidtorpedoes, electric circuit-wires connecting said station with theexplosive material in said torpedoes, a series of valves for controllingthe flow of air to and from the interiors of said torpedoes, and asuitable electric switch for controlling the firing of said torpedoes.

4. A submarine torpedo comprising a main hollow vessel capable ofresisting great pressure and provided with an opening or openings intoits interior, a flexible and collapsible lining within said vessel, andan air-tube communicatingwith the interior of said flexible lining, andthrough which air may be forced into said lining to expand it, andthereby displace the water in the outer casing and cause said torpedo tobecome buoyant, or through which said air may escape,

causing said lining to collapse and the outer vessel to fill with waterand cause it to sink to the bottom of the sea, an explosive-filled IOOIIO

chamber attached to said main hollowvessel, acircuit-wire connecting'with the interior of said explosive chamber, and means for explodingsaid ltorpedo by electricity.

5. In a submarine torpedo system, a bombproof floating firing-stationanchored in a fixed position and containing a compressedair reservoir,in combination with a torpedo having` an outer rigid shell or casing andan inner collapsible lining, airtubes leadingr from said air-reservoirto the interior of said lining', valves for controlling the flow of airto and from said lining, electric circuit-wires leading.,r from saidstation to the explosive material in said torpedoes, and means ofbreaking,` and closing` the circuit on said station.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification, inthe presence of tivo subscribing; Witnesses, on this 7th day of March,A. D. 1889.

ALEXANDER G. DONNELLY. Vitnesses:

N. C. LOMBARD, X'VALTER E. LOMBARD.

